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Show Christmas Caroling By Swiss Brethren One of the most impressive Christmas customs in Switzerland is the "Singing at the Fountain." by the Sebastian! Brotherhood in the picturesque spa town of Rhein-felden. Rhein-felden. According to the Swiss writer, Gottlieb Wyss, the custom had its origin in 1540, when a plague sweeping sweep-ing through many lands visitfd Rhemfeldcn. Twelve men formed a brotherhood in honor of St. Sebastian, Sebas-tian, promising to pray to him to safeguard their town from further distress. They also undertook to nurse those afflicted by the plague and to bury its victims. Pestilence in medieval days was ascribed to evil spirits in the water, wa-ter, and when the Sebastian! Brethren Breth-ren make their rounds of seven fountains on Christmas Eve they start at the fountain in the "Frosch-weide" "Frosch-weide" where the plague started in the sixteenth century. Their song dates back to the Middle Ages. For their Christmas Eve s.nging the 12 Brethren are dressed in dark clothes and black silk tophats. As the name of Christ is mentioned in their song, they uncover their heads. |